Bridgeport Firefighters Battle Blaze At Former Remington Arms Factory

DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com

BRIDGEPORT — Firefighters on Tuesday battled a three-alarm fire in the former Remington Arms factory.

The fire was reported about 11:30 a.m. in the vacant structure near Barnum Avenue and Helen Street. Firefighters also answered a call at the same time to a fire a block away in the office section of the old factor.

Although the fires remain under investigation, firefighters are treating them as suspicious, city spokesman Bill Kaempffer said.

When they arrived, firefighters found heavy fire in the five-story brick building. Because of previous fires, the structure was deemed unsafe so firefighters battled the flames from outside the building.

The fire was fueled, in part, by oil-soaked timber floors from years of manufacturing, Kaempffer said.

About 60 firefighters battled both blazes. Fairfield and Stratford firefighters stood by in Bridgeports fire houses to answer other calls.

Bridgeport firefighters expected to remain at the scene through the night.

A third fire at 101 Helen St. broke out as firefighters battled the factory fire. Its cause remains under investigation.